Sheldon adjusted the engines, slowing descent. The crew was nervous, having had no response from the surface. Sheldon was having bad feelings as well. Something nagged him about this one, worse than before. He was ready to walk on cat's feet when they climbed out of the high-g flight couches, having attained atmospheric flight.
      He remembered being at the board meeting when the lack of response from the bases on Den was initially discussed. It was there that it was decided that he'd be leading this expedition to explore the cause of communications failure.
      He felt little concern then. That had changed when they hit orbit. None of the colonial cities showed any signs of life. The probe cameras found no damage except that which random chance would create. There were a few buildings damaged by what passed for trees on Den, storm damage and little else. The damage had not been repaired, and that shook Sheldon more than he would have admitted if asked.
      The landing strip showed before and below them. They had opted to come in on an atmospheric approach, rather than the typical vertical drop, since they would have not been expected to appear from over the horizon. They watched as the field grew in size, then accepted their wheels on a rolling touchdown. They came to a halt in the middle of the field and started the exterior observation cameras scanning about the facilities.
      There was no sign of life. There was also no sign of death. That didn't comfort Sheldon, but at least he felt that there was a chance for survivors. He also was relieved not to be looking at corpses. He noted that the full compliment of shuttles was parked on the field. The colony had not tried to escape. Clues were beginning to narrow down the possibilities. It gave Sheldon something to consider and took his mind off of his fear.
      "Observation status, report."
      "Collins, sir. From all signs, the port was tidied up and abandoned. Everything is in its proper storage area. Almost no port ever gets to that state. Something is always out of place for time and convenience when a place is operational. And the colonies tend to be more lax than busy ports. This evacuation was well planned. Protective covers over everything. This port was not abandoned in panic."
      "Gillbridge, sir. Electronics of the port is totally inert. Power supply feed also inert. Shut off from remote location, possibly the source."
      "Kerns, do the aircraft look functional?"
      "From this distance, they look fine, sir."
      "Let's go get us a closer look. We'd be better off closing shop here on the shuttle and using craft more suitable for a close search. Darket, atmosphere?"
      "Analysis not complete, but nothing nasty so far. Should I send out a tweety?"
      "Yes, if it's clean out there. The quicker we get started, the better."
      Silence fell over the shuttle as the waiting began. A canary in a cage was transferred from its niche in the hull to the exterior. Observation continued without words. No one was inclined to idle chatter, and the mutuality of the feeling was felt by all the crew.
      An hour later, the atmospheric analysis was completed, the canary was still singing, and the other scans were finished. The airlock opened, and the crew emerged in three cycles. Collins set up remote warning sensors while the rest of the crew headed for the aircraft.
      Kerns and Gillbridge began inspections. They quickly concluded that the batteries were removed, as if for long term storage. A search of the facilities was started in search of batteries for the aircraft. None were found, and batteries from the shuttle were collected and installed.
      This allowed the electronics systems to be brought up on line, but the engines wouldn't operate with empty tanks. Nightfall came while they were searching for fuel tanks that held fuel. Each that they found had been scrubbed clean and nitrogen filled. Sheldon ordered the batteries returned to the shuttle. He ordered that dinner be prepared and camp set for the evening. He had decided that it would be easier to use the shuttle.
      After dinner, he sent Kerns and Gillbridge to see what could be found in the way of information from the control buildings. The others crew members he ordered to sleep while he kept watch.
      The two men returned three hours later with information. The logs were found, but the entries simply stopped over three years ago. There was the usual logging of flights that seemed to thin out in frequency for the final forty eight hours, then nothing. Not a clue as to what had caused the shutdown.
      Sheldon woke Collins and went to bed, as did Kerns and Gillbridge.

     

      Sheldon woke the next morning, ordered all equipment stored, then prepared the shuttle for atmospheric hopping. Checks were completed, all was secured, and they lifted.
      They rose to fifteen thousand feet and began reconnaissance of the city first. There was no sign of life, and Sheldon chose to look for signs of people, living or otherwise, rather than try to find records. The log at the port made him pessimistic that any were left behind.
      With the city revealing nothing, they made course for the nearest neighboring city, lying to the northeast. Again, the scan showed nothing. The houses were showing some signs of age, but little else. There were no tracks worn in the grass anywhere to be seen, at homes, parks, and public buildings alike. There was no sign of any mowing. Transportation was at about the level that they'd expect in a fully occupied city. The only differences were that none of it moved and none of it was parked on the streets. All cars and trucks seemed to be up on blocks for storage.
      The next city on the map revealed the same story. The people tidied up and left without their vehicles or major equipment. Everything was in its proper place.
      "Looks like a museum." noted Darket.
      The words stabbed Sheldon like a heavy, massive, sharp blade in his chest. "Yes. That's it. That's what has been nagging me. It's like it was set up for display, everything thing placed just so, orderly, like a well-disciplined work of art. Just so. Then finished and forgotten. There is a chance that the people are still alive. Why go to all of that trouble if you're going to die?"
      "Then where are they, sir?"
      "Hiding, maybe. Maybe they decided to leave their personal values behind for more exclusive ones. It's happened before. Not like this, mind you. But there are some similarities."
      "Where did they go before?"
      "Into the wilderness."
      "I think that we'd have spotted them on the initial scan. Don't you, sir?"
      "Not if they didn't want us to do so. If they'd go to this effort of tidying up, I think that they'd try just as hard to vanish. They did a remarkable job on the cities. Maybe there are caverns. Darket?"
      "Nothing notable on the geolog."
      "Then man-made. Collins, take us out over the countryside."
      "Which way?"
      "Follow your nose."
      The next five hours did nothing but strain eyes. They were closing on six hours when Kerns spotted a smoke plume. He drew up coordinates from reviewing the scan and brought the craft back around to the location, directly above and dropping in a pure vertical. They came down upon a campfire, wood stacked vertically to the center, forming a cone. It was definitely the work of human hands. Collins was already scanning on infrared.
      "Figure, bearing, uh. Trace very clear. Boy, would I like to hold that. Bearing oh eight one, two hundred yards, and retreating in a most charming fashion. Mmmmm- mmmmm, they shorly do build 'em nice heah."
      A distinctly female form showed on the main screen, scarlet against blue speckled with white. A woman of fire on ice. It made them all shift in their couches. Sheldon was definitely disturbed by the image. The form vanished behind a clump of cool green. Kerns closed the gap and overshot in a dangerous bank. They picked up the trace again. She leapt from the cover and moved perpendicular to their path, away from their bank.
      "She's got brains, sir. She thinks quickly."
      "Put it down behind her. Knock her off her feet with the brakes. But don't fry her."
      "Not on your life, Captain."
      They came around almost full circle and dropped hard toward a spot before her. She moved through the spot just before the brakes were fired. The exhaust, as planned, knocked her off of her feet. The craft came in with a hard burn and a surprisingly soft landing. Kerns had been exact. Collins had the airlock cycling before the shuttle touched down.
      He was out and reached the woman before she uncovered her face. She was unharmed from what she showed, and Collins was ready for the slightest wrong motion. She remained limp.
      "Can you hear me? Respond."
      "Yes. I can hear you. Please do not hurt me."
      "That is not my intent, as long as you don't show to be a threat. Do you understand? I'm anxious to be on good terms with you, so that we might get some answers for which we were sent here to learn. We are an exploration team sent to discover exactly what has happened to your people. Do you now understand? You are the first person that we have seen on Den. Has that sunk in to you."
      "Yes. It has. May I get up?"
      "Yes, slowly. Nothing sly or quick."
      "I follow you."
      Sheldon and Darket reached the spot. "What have you learned?"
      "I've been doing all of the talking to settle her down. Now let's be proper and let you introduce yourself, lady."
      "I'm not sure if I should speak to a pack of animals such as yourselves. You disturb my peace and attack me with your craft."
      "Our apologies, Madam." offered Sheldon.
      "I'm not married."
      "Pardon me, Miss."
      "Don't call me that."
      "Then it would help if we were to know a name that you would claim as yours."
      "I am Chikita Thrombard. Address me as Mistress, please."
      "Very well, Mistress. Our apologies. It has been rather nerve-wracking to land on a planet that is so neatly dead. Our intent is only to discover why the inhabitants of Den decided to drop out in such an odd manner. It is not in our intent to cause anyone any harm. I hope that your pride was the worst thing about you to be bruised."
      Kerns and Gillbridge arrived.
      "Are there anymore of you space boys?"
      "In orbit. But this is our extent in the shuttle. We've been most cooperative, while you have revealed little."
      "Well, all right. We gave up the cities and went underground. Our scientists predicted a solar flare in the gamma spectrum. Few listened to them until a few days before the first really bad flare hit. There was unusual activity prior to the outburst, so we managed to have few deaths when it hit. Fatality was confined mostly to those in the country that were isolated from the news sources.
      "After that, the scientists did more study and felt that it was likely to continue. So we got busy underground, building, furnishing, developing the life support, and then moved our existence there. When we finished, we came back and spruced the place up. We don't spend all our time below. We're definitely there when the flares strike."
      "Why did you give up your cars?"
      "We travel underground in laser dug tunnels. We have miles of roads below, where internal combustion is too polluting for the air cleaners."
      "Could you guide us to where we could meet other residents of Den."
      "Can I ride in the plane?"
      "Yes, if you behave yourself."
      "If you'll agree to do the same."
      "We shall be gentlemen."
      "Somehow, I have difficulty envisioning that." She rose and walked toward the shuttle. The five trailed behind her with their eyes glued to her stride. Collins and Kerns preceded through the airlock. Sheldon accompanied her. Darket and Gillbridge tailed the procession. They placed her in a seat behind the pilot's couch.
      "Where to?" asked Kerns.
      "South. Thirty miles."
      Kerns lifted the shuttle and flew magnetic south. Gillbridge brought the external cameras to the screen before her. Kerns said, "Let me know when you spot it."
      "What?" started Darket.
      They turned around and noticed that her chair was vacant. The seat belts were still fastened.
      "She just winked out. Like a natural funnel of water due to coriolis. Too quick to follow mentally, like a frog's tongue. You see it happen, but you don't. That quick."
      "Gillbridge, pull the log and note the location of the incident. Pick up some altitude, Kerns. Collins, scanners. Let's find some sign of their homes. Chemical traces from their exhausts, something. Key IR to the forescreen."
      "I knew this was going to be weird." responded Darket.
      "Can that!" answered Sheldon. "Solve, don't dissolve."
      "Yes, sir."
      The scans turned up nothing, as Sheldon half expected. Kerns flew the crew to the nearest city and set the shuttle down at the airport. They had dinner, having missed lunch. Those that slept, did so chemically. Sheldon was among them, even though it took three doses to put him under.

     

      Sheldon woke to find the others asleep. He was bothered immediately that there was no one standing guard. He rose and did a quick check of the scanners. All was quiet, so he dressed and went outside. When the hatch opened, the girl was sitting on a rock near the base of the ladder. The image she imparted seemed to Sheldon was one of being rather coy.
      "And what was that stunt you pulled?"
      "Another mode of transportation. I guess it's rather hard to get used to, but you do, in time. Saves wear and tear."
      "Why didn't you avoid us when we first spotted you?"
      "Things happened too fast. Oh, don't blame your men for all being asleep. We've decided to tell you the truth, and no one else among your crew will hear this. We'll invite the crew for a visit, and it will be convincing, but only you will understand the truth. For the time being, that is best. You will find it difficult to tell them the truth, and should you try, your crew will begin to think that you're sliding upstairs. Is that clear?"
      "I understand, but I'm not sure that I agree."
      "You will, or you'll make your own trouble. Captain, call us witches. That's the closest thing in human reference to what we are. The inhabitants of Den have found the keys to controlling the fabric of reality. My figure, that you enjoy watching, is not my original form. I decided that this one would be more fun, and it certainly has been. I might even be tempted into showing you just how much fun, if you play it cool and try not to stir the pot. Get ready to be elsewhere."
      She shut her eyes, and Sheldon waited about ten seconds. A mental grip, much like something a truly sadistic carnival ride designer might inflict on riders, swept over him. When he opened his eyes, he was in a comfortable living space with no windows.
      "We are underground?"
      "Yes. It's a little pocket in the mantle. You'd be quite trapped without one of us to assist you. No physical exit. But that is not the reason that we are here. We are here for privacy. For demonstration purposes. Relax, Captain. I'm not going to rape you."
      "Truly?"
      "Yes, I am being honest. We'd like for you to see our powers, then hear our point of view, then see how you feel. You are the one with command decision. You are also the most likely to understand us. You see, we can read your minds, as well as our own. We do not lie to each other. We can't do it effectively to any degree with each other, so we seldom try. Now with you, we find ourselves going contrary to what has become natural to us. That is because you are not us. You pose a threat to the isolation that we desire from the rest of humanity.
      "We are no longer like you in the way that we think. Our experiences and needs have changed. We have powers now, but we do not wish to use them on the rest of humanity. News of what has become of us would bring an unwanted flock of people to our planet, which we like as it currently is. We only ask to be left alone. Our interests will not conflict with the rest of humanity, as long they do not intrude upon us. We have no secret campaigns against those from which we came. That is not like us. We are a peaceful people that wish to remain that way."
      "And what am I to tell my superiors?"
      "You will have problems with the electrical system on the shuttle and lose your records of having seen us. When your men awaken, they will not remember me."
      "But you said that you'd take them on a tour."
      "I did, and they are waking up from their sleep for that right now. They will enjoy it very much, but they won't remember it once they return to your craft. They will have different memories, and you will be given your version of them as well, but you won't forget like the others."
      "They'll enjoy what?"
      "A little party for eight, that becomes four parties for two. We are curious about hybrids of our two cultures. Your men will gladly donate genetic stock."
      "I suppose that I'm marked as a donor as well."
      "Strictly voluntary. We won't twist their elbows. We would have trouble preventing them from donating. You are the only one that sees my body differently from the others. I notice that my body disturbs you. Would you prefer something less racy?"
      "I don't think that it would matter at this point."
      "Yes, you mean that. Suit yourself. If something would be easier on your eyes, just visualize. Just don't get unreasonable. Sheldon, we are not a cruel people. The settlers here came from common wholesome stock. We were strictly a commercial colony, a group of people that wanted to start over under better conditions.
      "We haven't changed that much. We got here and finally got all of the garbage behind us. We don't want to give that which we fled a reason to follow us. We'd have to go to the trouble of discovering a different planet that is inhabitable, and then starting all over from scratch again. Most of us have done that twice in our lifetimes. Believe me, twice is enough for anyone.
      "Now, let's get down to what we can do. Maybe you'll see why we want to remain apart. You've seen the teleportation and you've seen enough to believe in our telepathy. We can alter the state of any existing thing if we can visualize it completely. It takes a certain mental discipline to get it right. We are very careful when we alter living things, with guides assisting to signal us when we are not on target, so that we don't make a mess of ourselves and other living things."
      "More telepathy?"
      "Yes, at a deep level of sharing. It's almost a total meld, with just enough difference to show off mistakes. Afterwards, you have to re-orient yourself on your identity, isolating yourself from the other participants. It's become almost automatic for us by now, but it was a hard lesson. Not only can we control the make-up for objects, but also the forces playing upon them as well. It is easier than transformation, and is generally done alone. What would you like to see float about the room?"
      "I'll just take your word for it."
      "Most of our powers are a combination of these abilities. There a few others that we've discovered, but your mind wouldn't comprehend them. Our awareness is different from yours. A blind man has difficulty in experiencing visualizations for things that he has never seen, like the story of five blind men describing an elephant by sense of touch."
      "How did you gain these powers?"
      "From the sun. You see, we didn't heed our scientists. What few took shelter from the first flare made sure they were topside for the second. Nobody understands exactly what happened to unlock these powers in us, but it happened universally."
      "Then my crew and myself are susceptible."
      "Yes, but the next flare isn't for months. You'll be out of the system by then if you don't want to become one of us. And I don't think that you would want that. The crew is more like us that you are. You might fit in, eventually. But your first impulse would be to use the powers to return and tell your command about us. We are not yet certain that all of mankind should gain such powers. Like I said, we were a fairly wholesome culture. Much of humanity is not. To open the door would be to discriminate by force. We don't like being forced into anything. But we want this planet proscribed. Close your eyes."
      Sheldon found his eyelids closing against his will. He was hit with a jolt, and he then knew what the other crew members would remember. The canary dying on the fourth day. Autopsy would reveal biological agents to which there was no immunity. Since the crew had never been exposed to the atmosphere without their sealed suits, their health would not be questioned. It was all quite neat. The electrical system on the shuttle would fail while it was on the ground, and a second shuttle would rescue them. The report would go in to proscribe the planet under quarantine.
      Sheldon sighed. "I guess that I see your point, to some degree. I'm sure that I'm missing a lot. But what can I do?"
      "You are being sensible. Thank you."
      "What choice do I have?"
      "You could be difficult."
      "Only for myself."
      "Want me to make it easier for you to bear?"
      "Alter my mind further?"
      "No. I was thinking of something far older and more pleasant."
      "Oh. I don't know. I'm not sure that I want to donate to your experiments."
      "It's not necessary for your seed to be collected. Four is enough."
      "What would you do with it?"
      "What would like done with it?"
      "Destroy it. I'm not even sure that I want to. Not after this. I feel burdened unfairly with this knowledge. What do you want of me?"
      "To see how you react. It is much as we predicted. Your culture would not tolerate ours. It would have to gain what we have or try to destroy us. And we see neither as a viable alternative. We would like you to understand our point of view."
      "I don't now?"
      "No. You have had some glimpses, but you still fall way short of reality. Perhaps if you saw more of us. Close your eyes again."
      Again, Sheldon felt his lids close. Another jolt, expected this time, hit him briefly. But not expected was what he experienced after the shock. He found himself with feelings that were foreign to him. They were gentle, but alien. He felt a sense of power that he had never known before. But he also felt a strong sense of responsibility that went with the power. There was a level of compassion that was beyond him to comprehend fully. He dropped his head to his chest.
      "I'm sorry, Sheldon. Would you like to forget?"
      "No. At least I can have an approximation of understanding your motivation. That will help ease the burden in the long run. You were right to show me this. I didn't understand. I know that now."
      "It goes against my grain to do this to you. I'd much rather share a sense of warmth with you, show you our feelings of affection. That is what we base our culture upon. This that you have seen is incomplete without the giving and the sharing. That is so much a part of who we are. Will you at least try? If it offends you, we can stop at any time."
      "Very well."
      "Not very enthusiastic, Sheldon."
      "I may need some help getting started, but nothing induced by your powers. Not until we get started on the right track."
     

      Sheldon waited at the ship for an hour for the crew to return on foot. Collins was the first in to speak to him.
      "We found logs at a clinic. It was a disease. Airborne bacilla that they termed the witch's itch."
      "The itch of the witch's Den. How poetic."
      "Not really." added Darket. "It must have been pretty nasty. I'm glad that we haven't exposed ourselves to the atmosphere. Shit! The canary is dead. How long has it been dead, Sheldon?"
      "I hadn't noticed. The alarm is off."
      "Will this call for quarantine?"
      "For a few days, at least. And permanently for the planet. Take your stations. We found our reason."
      "What about the way the cities were left." asked Collins.
      "Maybe they had a strong ethic about community or something. Take your stations. We're lifting."
      Five minutes later, the shuttle lifted for orbit. Sheldon's eyes teared as he thought of Chikita. He remembered talking to her about altering the records of the shuttle and the ship, rather than leaving the craft dead on the surface, and how she had gladly agreed to his request. He felt a twinge of pain as part of him willed to remain behind, knowing that he could not. He had his own responsibilities that prevented him from tasting the full power of the witch's Den.
      He made radio contact with the ship once he had composed himself enough to speak, still feeling the weight of the burden of knowing. Part of himself felt cheated. Another part felt noble. He turned his head so that the others would not see his tears.

     

      Chikita turned to Draud. "We cheated him badly. He willing has done so much for us, and all we return to him is pain. He deserves better than that."
      "What do you suggest?"
      "Replace him with a short-lived double, and bring him back here to join us."
      "Do you think that he would be happy here? In with our way of thinking?"
      "He'd learn."
      "Would he fit?"
      "Perhaps you are right. We shall hold a council to discuss it. The switch could not be made until he reaches orbit. Are you willing to go retrieve him?"
      "Yes. I haven't forgotten what it was like to be human normal."
      Draud vanished, and Chikita followed Sheldon with her mind.

     

      Sheldon disembarked from the shuttle. He walked listlessly to the quarantine section through the sealed tube, dragging his feet, not lifting his head.
      "What's wrong, Captain?" asked Collins.
      "We found what we truly did not want to find. I had been hoping to re-establish contact with the people of Den. I feel very empty."
      "You win some, you lose some."
      "Yeah. Such are the travails of life." He turned and walked to one of the sleeping closets. He shut the door with the others watching.
      With the door sealed, he started crying. A touch on his arm startled him, and he turned to see Chikita.
      "You do not wish to leave us, do you?"
      "No, not really. Not after what I have seen of your culture."
      "Given a choice to go or stay, how would you choose? Be careful in your answer. It will affect the rest of your life."
      "You are offering me the chance to stay?"
      "Yes, but only if you consider all aspects of the decision. You have family back home, those counting on you, responsibilities."
      "My family doesn't know me. Never did. As for my career, I've only been used. I have nothing important back home."
      "Then your choice."
      "I'd like to stay."
      Sheldon stood facing himself the next second, then the underground quarters of Chikita the next.
      "You are my ward until the next flare. Until then, you'll have to depend on me for your existence. I hope that it does not bruise your pride. Don't try to alter the things we do until you are one of us and fully experienced in the powers that you will gain. Do you understand?"
      "What will happen to my replacement?"
      "It will die of the disease that was said to have hit Den."
      "I hope that I do not make you regret allowing me to stay."
      "That will be up to you. You must again become a child, deferring your decisions to others. And you need to be a model child, returning no trouble to those that command you. Do that and things should go well. Are you capable of such sacrifice?"
      "I shall try my best. It would be easier if I knew the why of the decisions. I would learn faster that way. I would know what to expect. I have some of the knowledge, but I can see that it is not complete."
      "I will try, also. Now what would you like to do?"
      "Get reoriented, I guess. It still hasn't sunk in yet that I am staying."
      "Let's go topside."
      "But the sensors on the ship."
      "We'll go farside and your ship will never be in a situation to spot us. They will be under acceleration quickly, and the sensors will be withdrawn back into their protective spaces."
      "Okay."
      Sheldon found himself standing on a gazebo next to a lake. Chikita was there next to him. Pillows appeared, and she gestured for them to sit. Sheldon dropped onto one.
      "It has been hard on you, has it not?"
      "Yes, but it is getting better."
      She sat next to him, snuggling in close. "Can I do anything for you?"
      "Do you sing? I'd like to hear your music, what you like personally, the music that inspires, comforts, and excites you."
      "You are such a gentleman." Chikita began an accapella trill that cast a spell over Sheldon without the use of her powers. He looked out over the sparkling water, then shut his eyes. He began to relax for the first time in his recent memory. Chikita felt the easing of tension and a small giggle incorporated itself into her song. Sheldon smiled.